Why Are Prepositions of Place Important in Portuguese?
Prepositions of place connect nouns and pronouns to other parts of a sentence, specifying spatial relationships. In Portuguese, just like in English, they help answer questions like “Where is the book?” or “Where are you going?” Mastering these prepositions enables you to navigate conversations, give directions, and describe scenes with accuracy and confidence.
The Most Common Prepositions of Place in Portuguese
Let’s look at the most frequently used prepositions of place in Portuguese, along with their English equivalents and examples to illustrate how to use them in context.
1. Em (In, On, At)
Em is the most versatile preposition of place. It can mean “in,” “on,” or “at” depending on the context. It often combines with definite articles to form contractions, such as no (in the/on the – masculine), na (in the/on the – feminine), nos (in the/on the – plural masculine), and nas (in the/on the – plural feminine).
- Estou na escola. (I am at school.)
- O gato está no sofá. (The cat is on the sofa.)
2. Sobre (On, Over, Above)
Sobre is used to indicate that something is physically on, above, or over another object.
- O livro está sobre a mesa. (The book is on the table.)
- A lâmpada está sobre a cama. (The lamp is above the bed.)
3. Debaixo de (Under, Beneath)
Debaixo de specifies that something is under or beneath another object.
- O cachorro está debaixo da cadeira. (The dog is under the chair.)
4. Entre (Between, Among)
Entre is used when something is located between two or more things or among a group.
- A escola fica entre o banco e a farmácia. (The school is between the bank and the pharmacy.)
5. Ao lado de (Next to, Beside)
Ao lado de indicates proximity, meaning “next to” or “beside.”
- O supermercado está ao lado do parque. (The supermarket is next to the park.)
6. Perto de (Near, Close to)
Perto de expresses that something is near or close to another object or place.
- Eu moro perto da praia. (I live near the beach.)
7. Longe de (Far from)
Longe de is the opposite of perto de and means “far from.”
- A estação de trem está longe do hotel. (The train station is far from the hotel.)
8. Em frente de / Em frente a (In front of)
Both forms are acceptable, meaning “in front of.”
- O carro está em frente da casa. (The car is in front of the house.)
9. Atrás de (Behind)
Atrás de indicates that something is behind another object.
- O jardim fica atrás da escola. (The garden is behind the school.)
10. Dentro de (Inside)
Dentro de is used to express that something is inside another object or location.
- As chaves estão dentro da bolsa. (The keys are inside the bag.)
11. Fora de (Outside)
Fora de means “outside of.”
- As crianças estão fora de casa. (The children are outside the house.)
Tips for Using Prepositions of Place in Portuguese
- Pay attention to contractions: Many prepositions in Portuguese contract with the definite articles (o, a, os, as). For example, de + o = do, em + a = na.
- Practice with real-life examples: Use objects around you to create sentences and reinforce your understanding.
- Listen and repeat: Engage with Portuguese audio and repeat phrases to become familiar with natural usage.
- Use language learning tools: Platforms like Talkpal offer interactive exercises and AI feedback to help you master these prepositions in context.
Conclusion
Prepositions of place are foundational for expressing location and spatial relationships in Portuguese. By learning and practicing the most common ones—such as em, sobre, debaixo de, entre, and others—you will communicate more clearly and confidently. For more tips, interactive exercises, and expert guidance, be sure to check out Talkpal’s AI language learning blog and take your Portuguese skills to the next level!
